Automatic data classification at the time of data set creation should have vendors salivating. This is because the amount of storage created will easily be twice the amount of core information captured (consider all the meta-data associated with a bounced email). Perhaps more importantly, auto-classification will remove a barrier to projects related to ILM, tiered storage, electronic content management, email archiving, etc. Savvy buyers will not disrupt progress due to the added storage expense but in order to capitalize, storage vendors must enable a new class of application that will exploit classification meta-data. This means suppliers must re-tool technology portfolios to provide solutions that perform function such as the following:

Organize and classify meta-data

Enable auto-classification

Exploit meta-data using file system, index and search functionality

Accommodate classification meta-data tables in high speed cache

Provide high performance data movement

Enable asset discovery and meta-data analysis

Secure and encrypt meta-data

Action Item: Key strategic initiatives supporting corporate and regulatory mandates will not go unfunded. Vendors that address the growing problems presented by the lack of solutions to automatically create classification metadata will reap the greatest rewards. Developed solutions must be ecosystem friendly with published entries and exits into key technology components that entice and facilitate partnerships.